Compact hatch impresses on foreign soil.

STARTING PRICE

$22,547

BASIC SPEC

STARTING PRICE

$18,427

BASIC SPEC

2015 Kia Picanto first drive review

Meet the newest member of Kia's family, the smallest, cheapest model in a broad local line-up.

Set to arrive locally early next year, the Kia Picanto will offer modern kit with a seven-year warranty, along with a top servicing and roadside assistance package for around $15,000.

That alone will get many customers over the line, giving Kia a much-needed boost in the Australian sales race.

It's an unexpected move from Kia as the micro car segment is shrinking in Australia.

But the brand believes there is an opportunity helped by competitors such as Volkswagen and Hyundai pulling out in the class, giving Kia a chance to find clear air in the hotly contested Australian car market.

Though price is everything in this corner of the market, Kia is not going to offer the cheapest model in its segment, choosing value as a package rather than a headline sum.

Early indications are that the Picanto will cost at least a couple of grand more than rivals such as the Mitsubishi Mirage and Suzuki Celerio, though Kia promises that its version will be a better bet.

Inside the 2015 Kia Picanto. Photo: Supplied

The brand's Australian arm hasn't specified exactly what local customers will receive, saying only that it will be sold in a single, well-equipped mid-grade trim.

The high-spec British version tested here has smart keys entry, cruise control, Bluetooth and USB connectivity along with trimmings such as LED running lights and 15-inch alloy wheels.

The car features rear parking sensors but not a reversing camera, and its simple stereo has a monochrome display.

On the inside, Kia's baby car has a well-finished cabin with a blend of soft and hard plastics as well as silver-painted sections on the steering wheel and dash.

The hatch will arrive in the first quarter of 2016. Photo: Supplied

Comfortable seats offer plenty of adjustment, though its tilt-only steering wheel is an oversight and the tight back seat is a better bet for short hops than longer trips.

Australian customers will be offered a five-door variant that is more practical but less chic than its three-door sibling.

European Picanto variants have a choice of two engines, though Australia is set to miss out on an entry-level 1.0-litre, three-cylinder motor that produces 48.5kW and 95Nm in the UK.

Instead, we will have a 1.25-litre four-cylinder engine that pushes 62kW and 120Nm toward the front wheels.

That's a good thing, as our preview of the Picanto revealed that the three-cylinder unit might be a little underdone for Australian tastes.

While more refined than three cylinder rivals such as the Mitsubishi Mirage, the smallest Picanto struggles to get out of its own way at times, languishing when asked to overtake or accelerate uphill.

The same cannot be said for a four-cylinder cousin that has much more verve, taking on tough tasks with a more enthusiastic vigour allied to a level of refinement and energy the triple can't quite match.

It's a smooth and responsive unit with a tacho that swings willingly toward its 6500rpm redline and doubtless is the pick of the brand's two engines.

That motor will be offered with a choice of five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmissions. Kia expects sales of the auto to outweigh manual customers, though its British press office was unable to provide a self shifting test car for evaluation.

UK data for the automatic Picanto states that the four-speed model takes 12.9 seconds to reach 60mph - well more than the manual's 11-second dash.

What we can say is that its five-speed manual transmission is a cinch to use, with a light clutch pedal and direct gate that will be welcomed by young motorists - many of whom may learn to drive using this combination.

Customers considering the Picanto should look into whether a manual will suit their needs as it should prove cheaper to buy and own as will as imbuing new drivers with a valuable skill.

Experience with rival city cars equipped with four-speed automatic transmissions also suggests that may be one too few a ratio, leading to a noisier, less energetic machine on the open road.

Our drive of the Picanto revealed that the machine is at home as an urban runabout. Light steering, a responsive motor and compact dimensions lend an effortless driving experience combined with a well-resolved ride - admittedly one that was tested in smoother surfaces than the rough tracks of Australia's capital cities.

Many of Kia's Australian products benefit from an upgraded suspension tune honed by local engineers, though that won't be the case for the Picanto - at least until an all-new model arrives in 18 months' time.

Grabby, over-assisted brakes and numb off-centre steering aside, the Kia was a willing companion on twisting, hedge-lined roads in Cornwall, responding well to the challenge of being hustled along at a decent clip.

But the same cannot be said of its motorway experience. High levels of road and wind noise quickly become tiring, leading us to check more than once that its power windows were all the way up.

The Picanto's light 930 kilogram kerb weight and flat sides saw it bustled around by crosswinds at motorway speeds, and another tester's car aquaplaned on the motorway during heavy rain - unwelcome experiences less likely to occur in a bigger car.

While the littlest Kia offers strong on-paper safety thanks to a full suite of airbags and stability control, customers cannot order their cars with modern active safety features such as autonomous emergency braking which are available as options in the larger and more expensive Mazda2 and Volkswagen Polo.

Real-world crash results published by the Monash University Accident Research Centre also suggest light cars in this class perform poorly in real-world collisions compared with larger models.

That said, the Picanto is likely to be safer than many second-hand options, bringing with it the peace of mind offered by the strongest after-sales promise in its class.

It forms a strong argument as to why first-time drivers and budget motorists should consider a new car over a used model, and promises to be a shining light in an overlooked segment of the new car market.